Bengaluru: BJP Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar has hit out at Ramesh Kumar, the Speaker of Karnataka Assembly for having disqualified all 17 rebel MLAs who had resigned from their parties.

He said, “Ahead of the floor test of the newly sworn in chief minister of Karnataka Shri BS Yediyurappa on Monday, the Speaker of Karnataka Legislative Assembly Ramesh Kumar has disqualified 14 MLAs of Congress and JDS who had resigned from their membership of the house. Earlier on Thursday, he had disqualified 3 MLAs.”

He added, “These disqualifications are based on the petitions filed by Congress floor leader Siddaramaiah, KPCC Chief Dinesh Gundu Rao and former CM HD Kumaraswamy seeking disqualification of rebel MLAs.

”The MP also expressed his displeasure over politicising the entire issue. “Our constitution envisages that those in constitutional positions must exercise their power responsibly. But Ramesh Kumar has spotlighted the risks of having politically motivated persons in constitutional positions who don't hesitate flouting laws and constitution for crooked politics.”

The MP also termed the disqualifications “malafide”.

“Speaker Ramesh Kumar‘s order of disqualifying Congress and JD(S) MLAs is patently illegal, malafide and overreach of his discretionary power. It is nothing but a clumsy attempt of revenge - at behest of his master and Leader of Congress Legislative Party Mr. Siddaramaiah - against MLAs who rebelled against the corrupt government which was infamously known as 20 Percent Sarkara,” he said.

Finally, the MP exhorted everyone to challenge such decisions.

“This kind of abuse of power and authority must not go unchallenged. Ramesh Kumar must be held to account for his complicity in intimidation and abuse of MLAs by Congress party. Speaker Ramesh Kumar will be made to answer for his malafide actions including contempt of Supreme Court and constitution.”